Final answer:
An abnormal Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) score typically suggests the presence of significant depressive symptoms, rather than successful treatment of depression. Such scores require further evaluation and may lead to changes in treatment approaches, especially if the patient has a history of childhood maltreatment or depressogenic attributions.
Step-by-step explanation:
An abnormal score on the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) typically indicates that an individual may be experiencing symptoms of depression. QIDS is a self-report inventory used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. A score that is higher than the normal range can suggest that a person is dealing with significant depressive symptoms, which may require further evaluation and possible treatment. Conversely, an abnormal score does not indicate successful treatment of depression; rather, it suggests that depression might be present or that symptoms are not adequately managed.
Self-report inventories like QIDS are objective tests that can be crucial in diagnosing and determining the severity of conditions such as major depression. This tool helps healthcare providers to measure improvements or deteriorations in symptoms over time and to adjust treatment strategies accordingly.
Considering that childhood maltreatment is shown to predict an unfavorable course of illness and treatment outcome in depression (Nanni, Uher, & Danese, 2012), and the importance of addressing depressogenic attributions (Kleim, Gonzalo, & Ehlers, 2011), it's essential to monitor depressive symptoms rigorously. Hence, an abnormal QIDS score can be an early indication to healthcare providers that the current treatment approach needs re-evaluation and possible alteration.